Europol: “brain” drug trafficking ring arrested in Albania – burned heroin in soap cargo

The discovery in soap led to the trail of a drug trafficking ring leader. The criminal organisation’s “brain” was arrested in Albania, European police announced. The alleged “leader” drug smuggling ring was arrested in Albania after authorities in Germany discovered heroin hidden in a shipment of soap from Iran, Europol announced on Thursday (28.11.2024). The suspect is a 57-year-old Turk arrested in Albania this month following an investigation conducted by Germany along with the Netherlands and Europol, the pan-European police agency said. “The suspect, one of Europol’s most important objectives, is reportedly head of a criminal network responsible for large-scale imports of heroin into Western Europe,” Europol said. The investigation linked the suspect to the seizure of 703 kg of heroin at Hamburg port in Germany in August 2022. “The heroin was hidden inside a container that had soap coming from Iran,” he said. Europol did not name the man who was arrested.